He differs from Trump on this question — earlier this month, McConnell said McConnell “doesn’t speak for the Republican Party and does not represent all its voters.”
Scott, who must balance a relationship between Trump and McConnell as chair of the Republican Senate Campaign arm, the National Republican Senatorial Committee stated in an interview with CBS News he would “absolutely vote for McConnell” to be leader again in Nov.
Scott stated, “I cannot imagine there will be any leader other than Mitch McConnell.”
Scott previously stated in November he would support McConnell for Senate GOP leader.
Scott stated to CBS News that he has a good relationship with the leader. “I believe we will have a great November, and Mitch McConnell is the leader of Senate at that point.”
Scott, NRSC Chair has repeatedly insisted that the committee will support its incumbents. This is stated in the group’s bylaws. Trump and his associates will be supporting Kelly Tshibaka, a candidate against incumbent Senator Lisa Murkowski in Alaska. This is the most prominent GOP challenge.
Murkowski will not need to win the primary in order to move on to the general election. Alaska has a new electoral system that was approved by voters in 2020. The four most popular candidates in the primary will now advance to the general elections. They will compete in a ranked choice voting format to decide the winner.
Murkowski’s campaign began 2022 with $4.2 Million cash in hand. Tshibaka had $630,000.
Scott stated, “I don’t think Lisa Murkowski will need our support,” when Scott was asked what resources the NRSC would commit to Murkowski.
He said, “Our money will most likely be spent to pick up seats in Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and New Hampshire. There will also be some other states that we think we can pick-up.” “We are going to use our resources to play offense across the country.
The Republican Governors Association spent $500,000 to support Brian Kemp in a TV ad. This was in order to assist him against former Senator David Perdue’s primary challenge. This is the first time that the group has ever placed a TV ad in a primary to support an incumbent facing a Republican challenger.
Scott also stated to CBS News that he doesn’t support preemptive pardons of people accused in crimes related the the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Trump suggested that these defendants be pardoned during a rally held in Texas last month.
Scott stated, “It’s wrong that people broke in to the Capitol.” “Those individuals should be prosecuted to full extent of law, just as anyone who breaks into property, property or state property.”
Recent CBS News poll showed that 33% of Americans support pardoning those who tried to force their way into Congress. Sixty-one per cent of Republicans support pardons.
Scott stated that these defendants could be granted clemency as permitted by law.
Scott stated to CBS News that the president can look at clemency and decide if they wish to make it happen.
Scott also criticised the House Select Committee that investigated the attack on January 6, calling it an “attack committee” that was meant to “attack Republicans” since Pelosi did not sit House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and his proposed members.
The Republican National Committee had earlier in February censured two Republicans from that committee, Reps. Liz Cheney (Wyoming) and Adam Kinzinger (Illinois). Scott stated to CBS News that he is not going to second guess the Republican National Committee members’ decisions and believes Republicans shouldn’t have been involved in the House Committee.
